We Were Soldiers

Review by By Clint Morris

I don't know about you, but when I watch war movies I like to get to know the characters on screen so that if and when they yield to their tragic fates, I'll feel a little something. Contrary to belief, no amount of 'Doors' music, Dolly Magazine Pin-Up boys or Stallone-esque types removing bullets from their groin won't do this for you. Scratch the 'Doors' LP, fire the music video director and rewrite all the Patriotic Yank Cheer, Gibbo thinks he knows how to do it right.

Under the direction of Randall Wallace (Braveheart), Mel Gibson takes the guise of Lt. Col. Harold G. Moore, a steady war hero prepping for a bout of onslaught against the Vietnamese in a hellish 3-day conflict.

Moore, the paternal leader of the 7th Cavalry, enters The Valley of Death with his troops, only to be outnumbered ten-to-one in the resulting three-day battle. But, unlike most of these drawn out war movies, this one's not going to end with a city wide celebration for America with fireworks a cracking and streamers a flowing - it's a loss for everyone, the Americans and the Vietnamese, and through Wallace's story we appreciate that both sides lost a hell of a lot here - both doing only what they were told to do. Like the 1992 book that it was based upon, the Vietnamese aren't demonised, and rightfully so.

Unlike the recent Black Hawk Down, We Were Soldiers isn't all visuals and schmaltz. This is the real deal. We do feel for the people; and we are treated to a story with profundity. Even more, the casting is spot-on. Gibson, with his cartoonish oversized arm muscles, is at home in the role of the warm and likable Lt. Moore, and Madeline Stowe, in one of her best parts in years, as his loving, strong-willed wife is a delight.

Sam Elliot is his usual Billy goat-gruff self and it works a treat here; as does Barry Pepper's 'wide-eyed' journalist getting a first hand taste of terror on the battlefields. In lesser roles, Chris Klein (there is life after Rollerball) and Greg Kinnear are credible, but a little out of their depth.

Like his previous film, Braveheart, which he also collaborated on with Gibson, Director Wallace knows how to give it his all. His storytelling is factual, yet intriguing, his direction non-intrusive, but insightful. Additionally, his cinematographer, Australian Dean Semler provides some stunning shots to compliment the film.

If a critic's forum ever decides to count down the Top 10 War movies ever made, We Were Soldiers won't come in at number one, not even number two - but it will make the ten.

4 out of 5

We Were Soldiers
Australian release: Commences Thursday 25th April across Australia
Cast: Mel Gibson, Sam Elliott, Madeleine Stowe, Barry Pepper, Greg Kinnear, Chris Klein, Josh Daugherty, Edwin Morrow, Keri Russell, Marc Blucas, Jsu Garcia.
Director: Randall Wallace.
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